Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have asked Russia to mount pressure on the US and Israel to halt the war in Gaza during a rare visit to Moscow.
The visit comes at a time when China has reportedly asked Tehran to help stop the group's attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea.
The attacks, which the Houthis says are in solidarity with Gaza, have disrupted global trade by forcing many shipping companies to divert their vessels to the longer and costlier route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.
The rebels have continued to launch drones and missiles at ships despite several rounds of US-led strikes since January 11.
A Houthi delegation met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdano in Moscow on Thursday and discussed the situation in the region, the rebels' lead negotiator, Mohammed Abdul Salam, said on X, formerly Twitter.
They also discussed the importance of intensifying efforts to pile pressure on the US and Israel to stop the war in Gaza.
“Both parties condemned the strikes launched by America and Britain on Yemen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chinese officials have asked their Iranian counterparts to help rein in attacks on shipping by the Houthis, which could harm business relations with Beijing, Reuters reported, citing four Iranian sources and a diplomat.
“Basically, China says: 'If our interests are harmed in any way, it will impact our business with Tehran. So, tell the Houthis to show restraint',” said one Iranian official briefed on the talks.
However, the Chinese officials did not make any specific comments or threats about how Beijing's trading relationship with Iran could be affected if its interests are damaged by the Houthi attacks, the sources said.
While Beijing has been Tehran's biggest trading partner over the past decade, their trade relationship is lopsided.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Beijing “is a sincere friend of the countries of the Middle East and is committed to promoting regional security and stability, and seeking common development and prosperity”.
“We firmly support Middle Eastern countries in strengthening their strategic independence and uniting and collaborating to resolve regional security issues,” the ministry told Reuters.
Houthi leader Abdel Malek Al Houthi said the group would continue to attack ships linked to Israel until aid reaches the Palestinian enclave.
“Our country will continue its operations until food and medicine reach the people of Gaza,” he said.
He said the US-led strikes on his group's missile and drone sites would be counterproductive and would not affect “our will and determination”.
Commercial traffic passing through Egypt's Suez Canal, which links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, has dropped by 42 per cent in the past two months following the Houthi attacks, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
“We are very concerned that the attacks on Red Sea shipping are adding tensions to global trade, exacerbating [existing] trade disruptions due to geopolitics and climate change,” Unctad chief Jan Hoffman told reporters on Thursday.
Mr Hoffman said more than 80 per cent of the volume of international goods trade was transported by sea.
“Maritime transport is really the lifeline of global trade,” he said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
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December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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WOMAN AND CHILD
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
